Abstract

The article analyzes the features of Greek prefixation as one of the ways of affix word formation. In order to reveal the complete picture concerning the origin of specific prefixes, their morphological and semantic changes in comparison with the ancient Greek language, and to reveal the emergence of new affixes, besides the synchronic the diachronic approach was used in the work. On the basis of the main theoretical concepts of word-forming paradigmatics several word-forming types and paradigms, possible structural models of derivatives in Greek are considered. Greek prefixes are divided into two types: inseparable and autonomous in origin (homonymous prepositions or adverbs that function independently in Greek). Among the autonomous units prefixes of prepositional origin are the most numerous. The process of prefixization is divided into pure prefixation and prefixation-suffixational / inflectional method. Greek pure prefixation is identified with compounding due to the same formal and functional features. Derivatives formed by the other method usually transmit the forming base into another grammatical category with the appropriate lexical meaning. The process of prefixization depends on both prefixes and the forming stem. Greek forming stems of prefixational derivatives are classified into free and bound. Prefixes can be combined with different classes of words. The greatest variety of prefixes of prepositional origin, as noted in the paper, is combined with verbs, and inseparable particles – mostly with noun bases. Due to the secondary derivation a double prefixation of the forming stem can take place. Besides the systematization of the main features of Greek prefixes, the article analyzes the evolution of prefixization on the basis of five types of prefixes. In the result of reconsideration, as noted in the paper, prefixes or prefixoids were formed on the basis of both grammatical and lexical elements.

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